Operators, drivers renew plea for impounded PUJs

Drivers and operators of public utility jeepneys plying the Mandaue City-Cebu City routes yesterday staged a rally to renew their call to the Cebu City Council to abide by the court order releasing their impounded vehicles.

Some 30 placard-bearing drivers and operators who are members of Mandaue City Transport Operators Association and Nagkahiusang Drayber sa Sugbu staged a picket in front of City Savings Bank building where the council was holding a session. NADSU claims membership of over 90 percent of Mandaue City jeepney drivers.

Antonio Pogado, NADSU chairman, said despite the court order to release the impounded vehicles, the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management has remained adamant to have the jeepneys under their custody. The jeepneys are impounded inside the city government property at the North Reclamation Area.

But Pogado admitted that almost half of the impounded PUJs have already been released after the owners had a settlement with the city government and CITOM.

Pogado said at least 30 of the more than 70 PUJs that were impounded by the city have already been claimed by their operators. "Many (vehicles) were released after a settlement. I don't know the system of payment."

Pogado said the city, through the CITOM, has no right to have their vehicles apprehended and impounded because they are just following what was stated in their franchise issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

In September last year, the operators of Mandaue City jeepneys filed a petition for injunction and demanded P820,000 in damages. They also asked the court to issue a restraining order against the CITOM and the Traffic Police Group from any further seizure of the vehicles.

They claimed that aside from the lost income for transport operators, thousands of commuters have also been affected by the new route changes since May. The changes in routes stemmed from Cebu City Ordinance 1837, which limits the entry of jeepneys from Mandaue City to only two designated terminals at the Ayala and SM malls.

Regional Trial Court Judge Ramon Codilla later ruled in favor of the PUJ operators and drivers, prompting the Cebu City government to file a motion for reconsideration before the Court of Appeals.

During yesterday's council session, Jerone Castillo of the city attorney's office explained to the council that it would be impossible to give in to the drivers' request because the city has elevated the case to the CA.

After Codilla junked the city's motion for reconsideration, the city sought refuge with the CA through a Petition for Certiorari, in which the CA has ordered the drivers to file the corresponding comment.

With the CA is yet to resolve the city's petition questioning Codilla's ruling, the vehicles have to stay impounded.

But even if the city is yet incapable of granting the drivers' request, Vice Mayor Michael Rama said the least that the city could do is ensure that the vehicles will not end up in ruins while being impounded. - Wenna A. Berondo and Joeberth M. Ocao